About Our Preschool

The educational goals of the Valley of the Sun JCC Early Childhood Center are to cultivate young children’s minds, bodies and emotions, as well as to develop individuals who are self-directed, lifelong learners by:

PROVIDING an array of stimulating activities that promotes aesthetic and cultural awareness, language development, academic readiness, motor development and social skills

ENCOURAGING independence, self-confidence, respect for others and a sense of belonging and sharing in a group

OFFERING loving support to each child and family through a positive, reciprocal relationship based on trust and respect

FOSTERING identity through an experiential approach to Jewish values

The educational goals of the Valley of the Sun JCC Early Childhood Center are to cultivate young children’s minds, bodies and emotions, as well as to develop individuals who are self-directed, lifelong learners by:

PROVIDING an array of stimulating activities that promotes aesthetic and cultural awareness, language development, academic readiness, motor development and social skills

ENCOURAGING independence, self-confidence, respect for others and a sense of belonging and sharing in a group

OFFERING loving support to each child and family through a positive, reciprocal relationship based on trust and respect

FOSTERING identity through an experiential approach to Jewish values

Our Philosophy

It is our belief that young children learn through direct and concrete experiences with the support and guidance of the unique people in their lives. Individual needs and differences are valued as they promote tolerance and respect for the diversity found within our communities and society in general. Our emergent and child-directed curriculum allows young learners to have an active role in their learning.

More than three decades of parents have entrusted us with the care of their children. We are accredited by the National Association for the Education of the Young Child and licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services. With low staff/child ratios and personal attention, your child will thrive.

Our Philosophy

It is our belief that young children learn through direct and concrete experiences with the support and guidance of the unique people in their lives. Individual needs and differences are valued as they promote tolerance and respect for the diversity found within our communities and society in general. Our emergent and child-directed curriculum allows young learners to have an active role in their learning.

More than three decades of parents have entrusted us with the care of their children. We are accredited by the National Association for the Education of the Young Child and licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services. With low staff/child ratios and personal attention, your child will thrive.

Our Staff

Our preschool has an outstanding staff of nurturing and caring professionals with many years of early childhood education experience. They understand when to provide direct guidance and when to allow children to discover for themselves. Our staff is also adept at quickly identifying any learning obstacles that might emerge, before they become a source of struggle for the child. They keep current through continuing education and conferences.

We maintain low staff/child ratios to ensure personal attention. Above all, we provide the love and affection children need to develop and flourish.

Our Staff

Our preschool has an outstanding staff of nurturing and caring professionals with many years of early childhood education experience. They understand when to provide direct guidance and when to allow children to discover for themselves. Our staff is also adept at quickly identifying any learning obstacles that might emerge, before they become a source of struggle for the child. They keep current through continuing education and conferences.

We maintain low staff/child ratios to ensure personal attention. Above all, we provide the love and affection children need to develop and flourish.

Our Facilities

Our preschool facility is designed for the young child. We provide a supportive, nurturing environment that promotes the emotional, social, physical, cognitive and spiritual development of young children. We work in partnership with families to provide loving, responsive, consistent care and education to their children. Our program serves as a laboratory for the growing child’s experiments in the mastery of new skills. In addition, we utilize The J’s fantastic amenities, including the gym, sports fields, swimming pools and splash pad.

Our Offerings

We have a rich array of programs from Infant and Toddler Care to Preschool. Our goal is to inspire and develop a love of learning in each child, in a stimulating and positive Jewish environment. We nurture the whole child intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually and provide opportunities for learning and growth. This enables the child to feel a part of, grow into and belong to the larger community.

Our Offerings

We have a rich array of programs from Infant and Toddler Care to Preschool. Our goal is to inspire and develop a love of learning in each child, in a stimulating and positive Jewish environment. We nurture the whole child intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually and provide opportunities for learning and growth. This enables the child to feel a part of, grow into and belong to the larger community.

The Sheva Framework

Sheva is an approach to learning rather than a curriculum that is designed and implemented by the Jewish Community Center Association. The approach recognizes that in order to offer excellence, you must hire and support excellence in your educators. With Sheva, learning is a team effort between staff, children and their families. Sheva is built on the belief that each child is unique and important, that using a Jewish lens reveals universal values and that meaningful play is the work of early childhood.

The Sheva Framework

Sheva is an approach to learning rather than a curriculum that is designed and implemented by the Jewish Community Center Association. The approach recognizes that in order to offer excellence, you must hire and support excellence in your educators. With Sheva, learning is a team effort between staff, children and their families. Sheva is built on the belief that each child is unique and important, that using a Jewish lens reveals universal values and that meaningful play is the work of early childhood.

Our Community

We are not just a preschool, we are a community where all parents and children feel welcome. Because we believe that parents are essential to learning, we have an active Parent Teacher Group, which provides parent-only and parent-child social opportunities. The PTG also arranges special visitors from the community and special events.

Our Community

We are not just a preschool, we are a community where all parents and children feel welcome. Because we believe that parents are essential to learning, we have an active Parent Teacher Group, which provides parent-only and parent-child social opportunities. The PTG also arranges special visitors from the community and special events.

To meet the needs of working parents, morning care begins at 7am and late care continues until 6pm. We close at 5pm on Fridays. In addition, we offer holiday camp for most of the days that public school is closed and Camp Kochavim during the summer.

Year-round pricing includes preschool holiday and camp programs in one convenient monthly price. Programs may also be purchased separately.